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Project Pele

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Project Pele is a <a href="Project#Project_management" title="Project">project</a> of the <a href="US_Department_of_Defense" class="mw-redirect" title="US Department of Defense">US Department of Defense</a> to build a deployable <a href="Nuclear_power_reactor" class="mw-redirect" title="Nuclear power reactor">nuclear power reactor</a><a href="#cite_note-2020-03-09_DN-1">[1]</a> for use in <a href="United_States_Armed_Forces" title="United States Armed Forces">United States Armed Forces</a> remote operating bases.

In 2020 the project was listed as relevant to lunar and Mars missions.<a href="#cite_note-New-era-2">[2]</a>: 15 presumably for surface operations rather than rocket propulsion.

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Initial_contracts">Initial contracts</h2></div>

On 9 March 2020, the Department awarded three development contracts,<a href="#cite_note-dod-2020-03-09-3">[3]</a> to:

<ul><li><a href="BWX_Technologies" title="BWX Technologies">BWX Technologies</a>, of <a href="Virginia" title="Virginia">Virginia</a>, for $13.5 million;</li>

<li><a href="Westinghouse_Electric_Corporation" title="Westinghouse Electric Corporation">Westinghouse Government Services</a> of <a href="Washington%2C_D.C." title="Washington, D.C.">Washington, D.C.</a> for $11.95 million; and</li>

<li><a href="X-energy" title="X-energy">X-energy</a> of <a href="Maryland" title="Maryland">Maryland</a>, for $14.3 million.<a href="#cite_note-dod-2020-03-09-3">[3]</a></li></ul>

The two-year engineering design competition is for a small nuclear micro-reactor in the 1-5 megawatt (<a href="Watt#Conventions_in_the_electric_power_industry" title="Watt">MWe</a>) power range.<a href="#cite_note-2020-03-09_DN-1">[1]</a>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Development">Development</h2></div>

Out of the initial three contracts - BWX Technologies, Westinghouse Government Services and X-energy - only BWX Technologies and X-energy were selected in 2021 to develop a final design for a prototype mobile microreactor under the Project Pele initiative,<a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a> and then in June 2022 BWXT was awarded a contract by the US Department of Defense (DOD) Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) to build the prototype and deliver it by 2024. The estimated cost of this prototype is approximately 300 million USD.<a href="#cite_note-5">[5]</a> In December 2022, BWXT started the TRISO fuel production at BWX Technologies Inc's Lynchburg facility in Virginia.<a href="#cite_note-6">[6]</a>

The envisaged reactor is intended to be deployable by road, rail, aircraft, or sea. It will be capable of quickly being brought on load, and be <a href="Inherently_safe" class="mw-redirect" title="Inherently safe">inherently safe</a>.<a href="#cite_note-projPele-14">[a]</a> Information from: <a href="US_Army_Futures_Command" class="mw-redirect" title="US Army Futures Command">US Army Futures Command</a>

<ul><li><a href="Akademik_Lomonosov" title="Akademik Lomonosov">Akademik Lomonosov</a>, a Russian floating power plant with two 32 MWe reactors</li>

<li><a href="Army_Nuclear_Power_Program" title="Army Nuclear Power Program">Army Nuclear Power Program</a>, a similar US project in the 1960's</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2></div>

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<li id="cite_note-projPele-14"><a href="#cite_ref-projPele_14-0">^</a> It will use <a href="Nuclear_fuel#TRISO_fuel" title="Nuclear fuel">TRISO fuel</a><a href="#cite_note-triso-7">[7]</a> (2022)—<a href="Idaho_National_Laboratory" title="Idaho National Laboratory">Idaho National Laboratory</a> will assemble a Project Pele transportable nuclear reactor, and test it for up to three years;<a href="#cite_note-DodSco2022-8">[8]</a> if test performance warrants it, this type of reactor will generate a nominal 2 MWe (1 to 5 MWe— megaWatts, electrical) for up to 3 years, for isolated areas such as the Arctic, or for an island;<a href="#cite_note-PeleWaksman-9">[9]</a> the reactor will be <a href="High_temperature_gas_reactor" class="mw-redirect" title="High temperature gas reactor">gas-cooled</a>;<a href="#cite_note-PeleAward-10">[10]</a><a href="#cite_note-jeffWaksman-11">[11]</a><a href="#cite_note-FedRegister-12">[12]</a> the fuel will be high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU);<a href="#cite_note-bwxtAward-13">[13]</a> experiments for handling the nuclear fuel will be performed at Idaho National Labs Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT), or the Hot Fuel Examination Facility (HFEF) during the three year test period.<a href="#cite_note-FedRegister-12">[12]</a> Mobile Microreactor startup testing at the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC), or at the Critical Infrastructure Test Range Complex (CITRC).<a href="#cite_note-FedRegister-12">[12]</a> Assembling, operating, and disassembling, and transporting the Mobile Microreactor at the MFC, or at the CITRC.<a href="#cite_note-FedRegister-12">[12]</a> Transporting the disassembled mobile microreactor to temporary storage at the Radioactive Scrap and Waste Facility (RSWF), or at the Outdoor Radioactive Storage Area (ORSA).<a href="#cite_note-FedRegister-12">[12]</a> Potentially conducting mobile microreactor and spent nuclear fuel post-irradiation examination (PIE) and disposition at Idaho National Lab.<a href="#cite_note-FedRegister-12">[12]</a> Produce reliable electrical power on an electrical grid that is separate from the public utility grid at Idaho National Lab.<a href="#cite_note-FedRegister-12">[12]</a>

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

<li id="cite_note-2020-03-09_DN-1">^ <a href="#cite_ref-2020-03-09_DN_1-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-2020-03-09_DN_1-1">b</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.defensenews.com/smr/nuclear-arsenal/2020/03/09/pentagon-to-award-mobile-nuclear-reactor-contracts-this-week/">Pentagon awards contracts to design mobile nuclear reactor</a> Aaron Mehta, <a href="DefenseNews" class="mw-redirect" title="DefenseNews">DefenseNews</a>, 2020-03-09

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<li id="cite_note-New-era-2"><a href="#cite_ref-New-era_2-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/A-New-Era-for-Space-Exploration-and-Development-07-23-2020.pdf">A New Era for Deep Space Exploration and Development July 2020</a>

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<li id="cite_note-dod-2020-03-09-3">^ <a href="#cite_ref-dod-2020-03-09_3-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-dod-2020-03-09_3-1">b</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2105863/dod-awards-contracts-for-development-of-a-mobile-microreactor/">DOD Awards Contracts for Development of a Mobile Microreactor</a>, media release, <a href="US_Department_of_Defense" class="mw-redirect" title="US Department of Defense">US Department of Defense</a>, 2020-03-09

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</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/BWXT-and-X-Energy-selected-to-develop-Project-Pele">"BWXT and X-Energy selected to develop Project Pele mobile microreactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News"</a>. www.world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 2022-12-22.</cite>

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<li id="cite_note-5"><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/BWX-Technologies-selected-to-build-Project-Pele-mi">"BWX Technologies selected to build Project Pele microreactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News"</a>. www.world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 2022-12-22.</cite>

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<li id="cite_note-6"><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a> <cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/BWXT-starts-fuel-production-for-microreactor">"BWXT starts fuel production for microreactor : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News"</a>. world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 2022-12-22.</cite>

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<li id="cite_note-triso-7"><a href="#cite_ref-triso_7-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://breakingdefense.com/2020/04/new-triso-nuclear-mini-reactors-will-be-safe-program-manager/">Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (8 April 2020) New TRISO Nuclear Mini-Reactors Will Be Safe: Program Manager </a> DoD project: 3 competing designs (1-year contracts, with a possible 1 year follow-on) for 1 prototype of an inherently safe reactor (no meltdowns). Fuel rods are composed of spheres: three layers of uranium, carbon, silicon carbide—<a href="Nuclear_fuel#TRISO_fuel" title="Nuclear fuel">TRISO</a> has been tested to be safe at 3200°F, hotter than the melting point of steel. A <a href="Molten_salt_reactor" class="mw-redirect" title="Molten salt reactor">molten salt reactor</a> is a possibility.

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<li id="cite_note-DodSco2022-8"><a href="#cite_ref-DodSco2022_8-0">^</a> Jaspreet Gill <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://breakingdefense.com/2022/04/idaho-national-labs-to-build-pentagons-mobile-nuclear-microreactor/">(13 Apr 2022) Idaho National Labs to build Pentagon’s mobile 'nuclear microreactor'</a>

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<li id="cite_note-PeleWaksman-9"><a href="#cite_ref-PeleWaksman_9-0">^</a> Todd South <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2022/04/15/pentagon-to-build-nuclear-microreactor-to-power-far-flung-bases/">(15 Apr 2022) Pentagon to build nuclear microreactors to power far-flung bases</a> Ft Greeley

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<li id="cite_note-PeleAward-10"><a href="#cite_ref-PeleAward_10-0">^</a> DoD SCO <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/2998460/dod-to-build-project-pele-mobile-microreactor-and-perform-demonstration-at-idah/">(13 Apr 2022) DoD to Build Project Pele Mobile Microreactor and Perform Demonstration at Idaho National Laboratory</a>

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<li id="cite_note-jeffWaksman-11"><a href="#cite_ref-jeffWaksman_11-0">^</a> Jeff Waksman <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://gain.inl.gov/GAINEPRINEI_MicroreactorProgramVirtualWorkshopPres/Day-2%20Presentations/Day-2-am.02-Nichols_PeleProgOverviewPublicMarch2020,19Aug2020.pdf">(Mar 2020) Project Pele Overview</a>

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<li id="cite_note-FedRegister-12">^ <a href="#cite_ref-FedRegister_12-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-FedRegister_12-1">b</a> <a href="#cite_ref-FedRegister_12-2">c</a> <a href="#cite_ref-FedRegister_12-3">d</a> <a href="#cite_ref-FedRegister_12-4">e</a> <a href="#cite_ref-FedRegister_12-5">f</a> <a href="#cite_ref-FedRegister_12-6">g</a> DoD Office of the Secretary, SCO <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ROD-Distro-A.pdf">(15 Apr 2022) Record of Decision for the Final Construction and Demonstration of a Prototype Mobile Microreactor Environmental Impact Statement </a>

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<li id="cite_note-bwxtAward-13"><a href="#cite_ref-bwxtAward_13-0">^</a> <a href="BWX_Technologies" title="BWX Technologies">BWX Technologies</a> (BWXT) <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.bwxt.com/news/2022/06/09/BWXT-to-Build-First-Advanced-Microreactor-in-United-States">(9 Jun 2022) BWXT to Build First Advanced Microreactor in United States</a> for Project Pele

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